tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193808172024-03-20T00:27:33.723+13:00The VanAlstine's NewsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-83809694499663858732008-01-01T16:29:00.000+13:002008-11-13T16:03:45.599+13:00Happy New Year from Motueka<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53-u6Rvjx7ZQw1AT9cbuU9RsbR0nUnKCaU5q_4XwJh19l40NPIxANTuEOc9dEXSflBgZzXUmR9TV5Bq-xqoIem_6tOVuMERFiMamQMXp3tjVEhb47ReyWv2d0-tstqp7gWflx/s1600-h/IMG_4650.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53-u6Rvjx7ZQw1AT9cbuU9RsbR0nUnKCaU5q_4XwJh19l40NPIxANTuEOc9dEXSflBgZzXUmR9TV5Bq-xqoIem_6tOVuMERFiMamQMXp3tjVEhb47ReyWv2d0-tstqp7gWflx/s320/IMG_4650.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150346168649936994" /></a><br />We arrived in Motueka on the 29th.We're staying at the 'Apple lnn',a trailer park next to an apple orchard. The weather has been wonderful so far.<br /><br />Yesterday we went to kaiteriteri beach which has the most golden sand I've seen in New Zealand. We went swiming in a little inlet with stunning blue water. It was something you'd expect in Fiji or Hawaii. It is only 20 minutes away so we'll definitely be going back.<br /><br />The scenery here is breathtaking; quite unlike anything I've ever seen. I feel like I've come to another country. The produce is cheap and fresh. The owner owner of Apple Inn gave us a huge bowl of fresh boysenberrys (similar to blackberrys.) The superlatives are getting out of hand, I know, but those berrys (berries?) were the best I've ever had.<br /><br />What else? Well we're here with Maree's brother and his family so Rachel is just loving having her two cousins - Amy & Katy - to play with.<br />We celebrated Rachel's 4th birthday a couple of weeks early yesterday and Rachel loved the presents and food!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-3813042256101266932007-12-29T11:48:00.000+13:002008-11-13T16:03:46.214+13:00Starbucks, Wellihgton<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcTjPFM3yaGEX1bHp5pyHuT7GGxEuZGSyHfQPWoHMU6eJMaW7zDRm7CdYE5_mhtowozveMtN_CIDUnjBCqHo9N67e5n5SLIN8N-BIFoIRoXZnFn5JsqDwUNRBMjpD4koIfq5s/s1600-h/Image000.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcTjPFM3yaGEX1bHp5pyHuT7GGxEuZGSyHfQPWoHMU6eJMaW7zDRm7CdYE5_mhtowozveMtN_CIDUnjBCqHo9N67e5n5SLIN8N-BIFoIRoXZnFn5JsqDwUNRBMjpD4koIfq5s/s320/Image000.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149161392491943938" /></a><br />I'm at a Starbucks in Wellington, writing on my Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, using a Telecom NZ hotspot. Technology is so cool!<br /><br />We camped last night at a campsite and had a terrible nights sleep. No more tenting.....<br /><br />Shortly we'lll catch a ferry to the South Island...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-74562515192665813882007-12-15T22:28:00.000+13:002007-12-15T22:38:25.435+13:00Hibachi PartyToday we had Matthew and An-na Carter over for a BBQ. We used our Hibachis. Great little things. More work than a gas BBQ but more satisfying and an authentic smoked taste...<br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7NlcXlvFskk&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7NlcXlvFskk&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-17247028425722468752007-12-13T19:55:00.001+13:002008-11-13T16:03:46.345+13:00Merry Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk-Mux8KlFZuLHlyc7lG5qfizY0SYxO7l04tkF5Pz033o8E0wGhcaprYtSHzW1RkmZ66mhley4W9TqRolIA2pdyXLoZCdaZOeDv7MzBePyaKa6roVQ9nWRET8wBlsLVNA5Tv-/s1600-h/Rachel+and+Santa.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk-Mux8KlFZuLHlyc7lG5qfizY0SYxO7l04tkF5Pz033o8E0wGhcaprYtSHzW1RkmZ66mhley4W9TqRolIA2pdyXLoZCdaZOeDv7MzBePyaKa6roVQ9nWRET8wBlsLVNA5Tv-/s320/Rachel+and+Santa.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143347785621247058" border="0" /></a><br />This will be Rachel's fourth Christmas! Today Rachel & Maree went to St Luke's and met Santa of all people! Santa's lair (can I call it that?) is a bit spooky. It's kind of like the one from<span style="font-style: italic;"> Narnia<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span> where the white witch concocted all her evil plans. I prefer the more traditional green and red Santa's lair. But don't worry, he wasn't a <span style="font-style: italic;">Bad Santa</span> (I haven't seen the movie but I am aware of it), although he was a bit stingy with the sweets.<br /><br />It's been 11 months since my last post but I will try to uodate this with photos and bits of news during the holiday season, so be sure to check back from time to time....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-73865104842388716272007-01-20T09:32:00.000+13:002008-11-13T16:03:46.514+13:00Happy New Year!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEJA_yBePItsC6BhiC_VB6z7ERfkIlOaxC8FVVdCT0pBBL3t0eaDdUD72LkTOhZdTv0Z7ErRi6yfzteo-ay5RZXHvz2H0O41FT0TT7-Em5nu-moES2ke6D5aLLjwoY2hjKWFj/s1600-h/IMG_3401.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEJA_yBePItsC6BhiC_VB6z7ERfkIlOaxC8FVVdCT0pBBL3t0eaDdUD72LkTOhZdTv0Z7ErRi6yfzteo-ay5RZXHvz2H0O41FT0TT7-Em5nu-moES2ke6D5aLLjwoY2hjKWFj/s320/IMG_3401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021843216271188498" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, it's a bit late, but better late than never. We're really enjoying the holidays and the weather has been great.<br /><br />Today we're going to Glenbrook for a few days of camping and maybe even a bit of fishing. Last week we went up to Parakai to visit Maree's parents and went for our first swim of the year in Lake Ototoa. Rachel loved it!<br /><br />On the 26th my friend Rob, from Alberta Canada is coming for 8 days. It's going to be a great time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-5944337790046907972006-12-13T16:03:00.000+13:002006-12-14T13:36:36.389+13:00Lake OtotoaI went to Lake Ototoa for the first time this summer.<br /><br />If you would like to download this video for non-commercial purposes, click <a href="http://www.esnips.com/doc/5a0da2d0-ae30-405d-963c-19ac74140074"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">here</span></a> and then below the video window select 'Download Video'<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xkVT5nBqkyg"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xkVT5nBqkyg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="240" width="320"></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-71178681019853746152006-12-02T13:10:00.000+13:002006-12-02T13:16:45.787+13:00Christmas Tree & Pine ConesYesterday we went to Onehunga and bought a Christmas tree. We set it up easily enough but it took several hours to find the lights! This morning Maree and Rachel painted some pine cones that will later go on the tree. <br /><br />I'm still not used to a southern hemisphere Christmas (warm weather) but having a real tree with the pine smell makes it easier to bear.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2Khn9EbCJ8I"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2Khn9EbCJ8I" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="240"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-50163577562973743982006-11-27T15:16:00.000+13:002006-11-27T15:26:25.154+13:00Rachel's First Pony Ride!On Saturday there was a 'Gypsy Fair' at a nearby park and Rachel enjoyed her first pony ride. She was a bit nervous about getting on, but after that she had a great time. Check out the video below to see how it went.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bkdTkxbOJfo"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bkdTkxbOJfo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="240"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-47406610072761740752006-11-21T20:19:00.000+13:002006-11-27T15:28:22.667+13:00VideosIt's been a while since I've posted anything. Lots happening. I've been trying to sell our canoe on <span style="font-style: italic;">Trademe</span> without success. We're hoping to sell it before the holidays and buy a kayak. We'll be able to use a kayak in the sea and lakes whereas our canoe can only be used in lakes and rivers.<br /><br />I've uploaded a new video. Click below to see it (make sure you have the latest Adobe flash player installed)<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-oxXAs-rJFQ"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-oxXAs-rJFQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="240"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-4256646331528759352006-10-10T15:17:00.000+13:002006-10-10T15:28:46.668+13:00The Holidays...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6737/2365/1600/IMG_2531.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6737/2365/320/IMG_2531.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <br /><br />Last week Maree's good friend Julie came over from Australia for a visit. Maree hadn't seen Julie for about three or four years. 'Aunt Julie' showered Rachel with books and toys...Rachel really liked Aunt Julie!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6737/2365/1600/IMG_2566.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6737/2365/320/IMG_2566.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />On Saturday we went to Mission Bay and enjoyed the sun and sand. We didn't go swimming, but Rachel had a great time in the sand. Some brave (foolish?) people were swimming but it will be another couple of months before I (James) start.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.warriors.ca/public/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album504">here</a> for our latest pictures.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-24089466238573027922006-09-24T14:42:00.000+12:002006-09-24T14:51:30.678+12:00Spring is here!It's Sunday afternoom here and close to 20 degrees. Rachel has a tub outside that she splashes around in. The water from our rainwater tank is still quite cold so I have to add a bit of boiling water to her tub to keep her happy.<br /><br />On friday I mowed the grass for the first time in three months and it has made quite a difference (it sounds bad, but over the winter the grass doesn't grow that much.) I still have lots of trimming to do.<br /><br />The grapefruit on our tree is ripe, so we've been eating lots of grapefruit. It's a bit sour but still delicious.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-75666558315483134272006-09-21T17:42:00.000+12:002006-09-21T18:01:33.380+12:00The Zoo....We went to the Auckland Zoo today. We actually have a family pass. We've gone at least four times already so it's paid for itself. Some people might think, 'why bother?', but I say 'why not?' It's like having a semi-private park. The grounds are beautifully landscaped; when we go in the afternoons during the week there are no crowds. It's a great way to get exercise as well. There's a really nice cafe too. Oh...and the animals!<br /><br />Rachel loves the hippo (That's because <span style="font-style: italic;">Madagascar</span> is her favourite movie) We didn't see everything today...which brings me to the other advantage of having a pass: you don't feel that you have to see everything. Sometimes we only go 45 minutes or so and enjoy a nice walk. Today we enjoyed ourself with a cup of tea in the Australian section watching the wallabies and the lone kangaroo. There were also to emus that really freaked Rachel out.<br /><br />The highlight was being in the new aviary. There were all these cool tropical birds: lorikeets and parakeets flying around and sitting on the ground. We were only a few meters from a flock of lorikeets.<br /><br />We also saw the new Tiger, Oz, all the way from the Tel Aviv Zoo in Israel<br /><br />The next two weeks will be the school holidays so it will be packed so we probably won't go then.<span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-70959981928047904002006-09-20T13:31:00.000+12:002006-09-20T13:41:46.274+12:00Beginning again....I've seen so many blogs on the internet and thought, 'wow, that is so cool' and then remembered our family blog that hasn't had a new post in over 9 months....<br /><br />It's September now, so it's spring here in Auckland. The nights aren't as cold and the days are warmer. Today is really sunny but I'm taking it easy inside because I've had a sore throat for the past 5 days. This is my third day off work, but I'm definitely going back tommorrow. Two days and then the term is over. Then, a two week break. Then, 10 weeks of teaching. Then, Christmas and 6 weeks holidays.<br /><br />Maree is at school today; she is studying to be a primary school teacher. The school is in Henderson which is a 30 minute drive away. Rachel goes with Maree and goes to a playcenter on the school grounds. She really likes playing with her friends, playing in the sandpit and bouncing on the trampoline (this is Rachel, not Maree)<br /><br />Okay, I'd better not overdue it or it'll be a few months before I write again!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-1135673564561095492005-12-27T21:50:00.000+13:002005-12-27T21:52:44.566+13:00Merry Christmas part 2<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/765/1917/640/IMG_0931.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/765/1917/320/IMG_0931.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here we are enjoying Christmas dinner the evening of the 25th at the Parakai Pools restaurant. (We actually had a proper Christmas dinner in the afternoon) <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-1135673287576983462005-12-27T21:44:00.000+13:002005-12-27T21:48:07.586+13:00Merry Christmas!We celebrated Christmas in Parakai with Maree's parents. Rachel got a bicycle. We discovered a beautiful lake - lake kereta - 25 minutes by car from Parakai. It has some nice hiking trails around it. We only explored a bit because it was evening when we got there. We hope to go there for a picnic soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380817.post-1133170800171908762005-11-29T19:40:00.000+13:002005-11-28T22:40:06.386+13:00Welcome!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/765/1917/1600/IMG_0599.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/765/1917/320/IMG_0599.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Well, this is the first VanAlstine blog. I've only started this because I use <em>picasa2</em> a photo album managing thing from Google and when you're playing around with your pictures there's an option to 'blog this'. So, that's what I've done. I think you'll be able to post comments as well. It's 10:40 pm so I'm off to bed......Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0